Hey St. George! Short-term rentals came up on the City Council's calendar this week, and we know a lot of homeowners, buyers, and sellers care about this one. Here's a careful, plain-English look at what the public record shows and what the city code says today.
What the Agenda Showed
The Nov. 5 work-meeting agenda listed discussion of owner-occupied short-term rentals (Utah Public Notice Website). It was item two on the City Council work meeting agenda, posted Oct. 30, 2026. The notice does not document an adopted ordinance or a vote.
We haven't reviewed an official recording or minutes, so we're not going to guess at what was said. When the city posts more, it will be worth reading.
What the Published Code Says
The online St. George City Code is current through Ordinance 2026-079, passed Oct. 1, 2026 (§ 10-17A-13). That tells you how current the published version is. It does not rule out changes adopted after that date.
The code defines a short-term residential rental as property used for transient lodging where occupancy is offered for 29 consecutive calendar days or less, "for direct or indirect compensation or other consideration" (§ 10-2-1).
Section 10-17A-13 lists additional standards for short-term rental development. It says a single-family residence may be permitted as a short-term rental if the property is (§ 10-17A-13):
- Located on a lot of two acres or larger
- Contiguous to and fronts on a major collector or arterial street (66-foot right-of-way or more)
- Separated by at least 500 feet from another property used for short-term rental
The same section also requires compliance with the city's landscape requirements. Meeting those standards is not, by itself, permission to operate. Zoning, any required approvals, licensing, and other applicable requirements still apply.
On the licensing side, the code requires the following (Title 3, Ch. 2, Art. V):
- A city business license, which is not transferable between persons or structures
- Collection of the municipal transient room tax
- A local property manager available 24 hours a day
- A visible in-unit sign with the manager's name and phone number, maximum occupancy, and garbage pickup day
- Garbage removed within 24 hours of tenants leaving
- Cleaning at least weekly while occupied and between stays
What It Means If You Own, Buy, or Sell Here
If you own: Please don't assume an agenda item means anything changed. Check the current code and talk with the city before you spend money on finishes or furniture for a rental.
If you're buying: If rental income matters to your plans, ask the city early and get answers in writing. We can't tell you whether a specific property qualifies, and no blog post can.
If you're selling: Be careful with any talk of rental income. Point buyers to the city for answers about a specific property.
If you're a neighbor: This agenda was posted on the Utah Public Notice Website days before the meeting, so that site is a good place to watch for future items on this topic.
Our Take
Whether owner-occupied rentals should be treated differently is a policy question for the city to weigh. We'll keep watching the public record and share what we find, with sources.
Wondering how city rules could affect your next move? Reach out to us here. We're here to help!
Sources
- Utah Public Notice Website, City of St. George City Council Work Meeting Agenda, Nov. 5, 2026 (posted Oct. 30, 2026): https://www.utah.gov/pmn/sitemap/notice/1119677.html
- St. George City Code § 10-17A-13, Short-Term Residential Rental, Specific Standards (published code current through Ord. 2026-079, passed Oct. 1, 2026): https://stgeorge.municipal.codes/Code/10-17A-13
- St. George City Code § 10-2-1, Definitions: https://stgeorge.municipal.codes/Code/10-2-1
- St. George City Code Title 3, Ch. 2, Art. V, Short Term Residential Rental Properties: https://stgeorge.municipal.codes/Code/3-2V
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